Is Diverticulitis Associated With MC?

Fish2575 · Post by **Fish2575** » Sat Dec 17, 2011 5:17 pm

It is all very interesting...I have the DQ8 gene which is celiac and type I diabetes. I believe you are right about the gluten link!

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:12 pm

Wow Tex another great thread!! I to believe now that gluten plays a big roll in ALL areas of the digestion. I was Dx over 10 years ago with diverticulitis and since have had many bouts of it. Some serious (hospital with antibiotic) and some not so serious but still painful. My last episode was only 2 months ago and that was my fault because I ate nuts. In the last 2 months being GF, SF, LF and sugar free I feel a HUGE difference in the way my body reacts to food. Long ago before Dx with MC when I ate italian bread, rolls and the worst bagels I would have pains on my left side (even just to the touch would kill me). Now I have Udi's bagel and nothing happens, not a pain or even a twitch, nothing. Its been amazing to me how before going on the Paleo diet certain foods really upset me (even having a plain salty cracker would kill me). Now, I very rarely have pains in my stomach and if I do its ussually because I ate something I wasn't suppose to. So again Tex thanks for this thread, I do believe we are what we eat and the more I read about gluten it really more like poison to our bodys.

Joe....I feel your pain! OUCH!! I do hope for a speedy recovery for you.

Love Robin

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:23 pm

Thanks Robin, it looks like I can break out of here tommorow. In my case I have now had 3 episodes one years ago and then 2 somewhat minor episodes over the past 2 years. Recently during a followup MRI scan it showed that the pouch size had increased and that the Dr felt there was actually fistula like action involved. Overall it was considered high risk to leave this is place.

Robin · Post by **Robin** » Sun Dec 18, 2011 8:50 pm

Hi Joe,

The fistulas are always a problem! They can cause more problems then you can even imagine! So that was a very wise choice to remove it. I hope your back on your feet like new, so you can still enjoy the holiday season!

Love Robin

sarkin · Post by **sarkin** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 3:06 pm

Joe,

Glad you're getting out of the joint - wishing you rapid and complete healing, and no more hospital lockups for a long time to come!

Hope your holidays are merry, bright and restful, and sending you healing thoughts and all my best,

Sara

Robin.booboo · Post by **Robin.booboo** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:53 pm

We have all kinds of colon issues on my Dad's side. My Grandpa died of colon cancer when I was little. My Great-Aunt died of colon cancer when I was a young adult. Since then, my Dad and two of my Aunts (his sisters, not my Mom's) are on the once a year colonoscopy schedule. One of my Aunts has diverticulitis. Another probably has an undiagnosed IBD - From what I was recently told, she has to take along Depends on long car rides, and it is NOT because she is a woman of a certain age. Now, here I come along with the collagenous colitis. It is actually a "joke" (sort-of) in my family that if old age doesn't get you first, colon cancer eventually will. I sure hope that isn't true! The first thing they told me was that MC is "benign", to which I laughed out loud given my extensive battle with the D, and they explained that "benign" in this usage meant it is not supposed to result in cancer. However, given my particular family history, I really have to wonder.

I hope you are healing well, Joe! Happy Holidays!

Robin

Post by **tex** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:39 pm

Robin,

FWIW, you might want to encourage anyone on your father's side of the family, (including yourself), to start taking a respectable dose of vitamin D. Polly, (who is an MD, by the way), eliminated her polyp issues by boosting her vitamin D level. On her last colonoscopy, she had absolutely none, whereas previously, she always had polyps that needed to be removed. It is well known that vitamin D prevents colon cancer, and Polly speculates that this may be the way that it does so - by preventing the development of pre-cancerous polyps. It's the cheapest life insurance policy that anyone who is a colon cancer risk can buy, and it's possibly the most effective life assurance treatment available.

Tex

Robin.booboo · Post by **Robin.booboo** » Thu Dec 22, 2011 10:52 pm

Oooh! Thank you for mentioning the polyps, Tex! I completely forgot to say that those are also rampant in that side of the family! I can't remember who has had them, and who hasn't but it has been multiple family members. And I have been taking the Vitamin D 5000 ever since I read about this here. Yes, I will tell my family, thanks!

Robin

hoosier1 · Post by **hoosier1** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:46 am

Wow Joe. I am sorry for your recent setback. I had no idea you were continuing to go under the knife. Though I do think you need to patent the zipper. Now doesn't diverticulitis also result from increased pressured in the colon... Causing those pockets?

Get better, my friend.

Rich

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:50 am

Hi Rich, the current theory is it is a weakend section of the bowel tissue that is aggravated by pressure. As tex pointed out in the article, there is research showing an associations with inflammation as well. My GI believes that there is a link with inflammation and he does see a higher number of patients with IBDs with diverticula.

Joe

Post by **tex** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 3:01 pm

Rich wrote:Now doesn't diverticulitis also result from increased pressured in the colon... Causing those pockets?

IMO, that pressure does indeed make a difference. When I was reacting I almost always had unbelievable gas pressure and bloating - I just couldn't get rid of the gas, for days at a time. I recall that the notes from my colonoscopy exam described my colon as "voluminous". "tortuous", "erythematous", and "edematous", with numerous "tics", meaning that it was oversize, twisted/contorted, red, and swollen, with a lot of diverticula. Otherwise, it was just fine, according to the report.

When I had the colectomy, almost 2 years ago, the operative report noted that my intestines were a third longer than normal.

My take on that is that living with very frequent, or at times, almost constant gas pressure, for 2 or 3 years or more, will definitely stretch your guts, significantly, and that is bound to cause increased diverticula problems, as well. I can remember a few times when the bloating was so bad, and the pain so intense, that I was actually concerned about bustin' a gut.

Tex